LeBron James a fan of Golden State's Stephen Curry since college

When asked about the college playing days of Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry, he offered a question of his own.

"Can anyone name one of his teammates in college," James said to a group of reporters. "Right now. Go."

When no one could answer, James said, "My point exactly."

Curry is nearly 4 1/2 years removed from almost leading Davidson to the Final Four, but has restored the NCAA magic that made him a household name in 2008. Even though he plays in a market unnoticed by most of the nation, he is putting up numbers to deserve All-Star mention.

He was averaging a career-high 20 points and 6.5 assists entering Wednesday's game against the Miami Heat. For James, it comes as no surprise. It was James who began following Curry as a college junior, the year his Davidson team lost to Kansas by two in the Elite Eight round of the NCAA Tournament.

James was in the audience at Detroit's Ford Field two nights before when Curry scored 33 points in an upset of Wisconsin. His attendance had nothing to do with he and Curry being from Akron, Ohio or that James was in town that weekend playing against the Pistons.

"He raised all their (Curry's Davidson teammates) level to another height because his ability to transcend their game and play at a higher level," James said. "To have one individual be able to make people play at another level than they possibly can, it's awesome."

The description sounds a lot like James' years with the Cleveland Cavaliers, and at times during his tenure in Miami. Like James, Curry has elevated his teammates. He was shooting 43 percent from the 3-point arc while also averaging four rebounds entering Wednesday's game.

Some consider him a dark horse addition to the league's early MVP race, joining James, and Carmelo Anthony. Before Wednesday, the Warriors were a surprising 14-7 under second-year coach Mark Jackson. Much of it had to do with the resurgence of Curry, who is healthy after undergoing surgery on his right ankle each of the past two seasons. Last year he played just 21 games.

"He's always had this potential," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "It's really been primarily his health. He's been able to play the first 20 games of the season [injury-free]. When he came in as a rookie, you already saw the greatness. He's playing right now with the same type of confidence and freedom that he played with when he was in college."

Curry is one of two point guards averaging at least 19 points and six assists, with the other being Oklahoma City's Russell Westbrook. His streak of four 20-point, 10-assist games was the first in Golden State history since Tim Hardaway accomplished it in December of 1992.

"He can get a few [MVP] votes, of course," James said. "It's early in the season. If you had to stop right now, no one would ever say they would be where they are right now: second in their division and in the middle of the pack as far as playoffs."

Curry added: "It's nice to be in that conversation and to play at a level where people think you deserve it. But your first priority is winning. I think if we were a 7-14, nobody would be talking about it."

While Curry has been often feared for his shooting, Heat guard Dwyane Wade said passing is an overlooked aspect of his game.

"One thing that's amazing about him is he can pass equally as well with both hands," Wade said. "That's very rare. He can whip it with the left hand just as well he can with the right."

Yet shooting remains Curry's best asset.

"You just pray when he shoots it, that it doesn't go in," Wade said.

Curry recalls teaming up with Allen

Curry recalled the first time he met Heat guard Ray Allen. It was during the lockout-shortened season in 1999 when an 11-year-old Curry was allowed to participate in a drill with his father, Dell, who was Allen's teammate with the Milwaukee Bucks.

Curry teamed with his father and Allen to defeat Glenn Robinson, Vinny Del Negro and Sam Cassell.

"Someone was sick and coach [George Karl] let me get in for a drill," Curry said. "I remember that moment so whenever I see [Allen] I kind of laugh about that."

Wade to peak by All-Star break

Even though Wade put together an impressive two-game stretch against the Brooklyn Nets and Hawks, he still says he's yet to reach peak performance.

For Wade, he expects it come around mid-February.

"Hopefully, if I do everything right and everything goes right, by All-Star Weekend or after All-Star, I'm at my peak, the best I've been all season," Wade said. "I can take it into the playoffs."